The number and size of sponsor-backed going private transactions were each lower in 2012 than in 2011 and 2010; however, when excluding the soft first quarter of 2012, deal activity was on par with such earlier years, according to a new survey.

Though private equity fundraising and exit volumes continue to trend upward when evaluated on an annual basis, US private equity showed a 42 per cent decrease from its fourth quarter level in the first quarter of 2013.

Looking back to the start of the year, a number of big-ticket deals have already made it through the gate, particularly in the US, according to the Deal Compass from law firm Weil, a roundup of strategic going-public and US sponsor-backed going-private deals.